Grading Gamers

So the National Institute on Media and “The Family” has given the gaming industry a failing grade. What with this being finals season, I doubt we’ll see have the regular chance to retake the test. And it’s almost like they didn’t even read over the essay portion, just assumed it would be bad. Here’s a few points of interest:

1. They claim that being able to hack the source code for the PSP Manhunt 2 makes the AO version of the game playable. True except for the fact that under the terms of use AND under the DMCA, this is a crime. Giving the ESRB a C because of this is unfair. It is not the ESRB’s job to hack the source code of games to see what’s in there.

2. The report card also claims that M-rated games are made “easily available” to kids under 17. Oh how I wish this was the case. I am nearly 21, 5′9″ and I got carded for both Gears of War AND for Unreal Tournament 3, both M-Rated games. It’s almost insulting.

3. Grammar errors run rampant throughout their report. I hardly read things on the internet because of bad grammar. Heck, I myself have forgotten a comma here and misspelled a word there. But didn’t these people graduate high school?

Families also received some good news in 2007. In February, GameStop, one of the nation’s largest specialty retailers of video games, clamped down on the sale of M-rated (Mature) video games to minors by terminating sales clerks and store managers who sell these games to minors. The Target Corporation took a bold step in pulling Manhunt 2 from its shelves after it was revealed that AO (Adults-Only) content was viewable, on the Mrated game for Sony’s PSP and PS2, by changing the game’s code.

Look, it is VERY simple. In a paragraph, you choose in which tense you desire to write. You do NOT jump from one to the other. And that is just the third paragraph of the report. Also, may I point out that their lack of knowledge in the industry comes off on the cover of the report, where there is a group of kids playing games using original Dual Shock controllers, the second iteration of controllers for the PS1, which would make them about 20-24 years of age now.

Also, NEVER jump between numbers spelled out and in numerical format, such as “seven out of 10.” It’s REALLY bad grammar and is very irritating. Pick one.

3. Most importantly, I refuse to have my industry judged by an institute whose website does not even exist. For the last twenty minutes that I have been writing this blog, their site, MediaWise.org, has given me nothing but a blank white page. Obviously these people have not kept up with the times since that photo of the kids playing their Playstation was taken.

At the same time, we have people warning of games not to buy for your kids this Christmas season, which include GTA, 50 Cent Bulletproof, and… Killer 7? Wow. Hey, 2005 called. They want their video games back. And seriously, if anybody can FIND Killer 7 on a store shelf, BUY IT. It’s a rarity. Granted, not as impressive as finding a copy of REZ (which my friend and I managed to do once), but still pretty good.

I think the gaming industry needs to stand up and write our own report about how we have been treated in this last year, about the misinformation and lies spread about us, and give A-F grades. Here’s my final judgment, Dr. Walsh.

2007

Public Involvement: C
I am yet to hear the American public speak up about this issue. Video games were left out of the Republican National Debate. It is an issue that is being ignored, despite the fact that many candidates have a position on it. However, I am grateful to the ESA, the ESRB, and GamePolitics for helping bring these issues to light.

Ratings Education: A
The ESRB has done an amazing job keepings ratings sensible and public. The PSA’s are informative, there are giant posters in every store, and there are free fliers that anyone can take. What more do you want?

Retailers’ Policies: D
This rating is for anyone who sells games, small or national. Obviously if Johnny 12-Year-Old is trying to buy Manhunt 2 without parental/guardian supervision, he shouldn’t be sold to him. But even 12 year olds can get into R-Rated movies with parental/guardian supervision. I have never been carded for a movie, and just now I have begun being carded for games, despite the fact that I am obviously over 17. Either the retailers need to readjust their policies to, “No sale to persons under 17 without proper ID or Parental Supervision” or they should put on glasses to see who’s actually buying the game.

Game Specialty Stores: F
This is just for my general hatred of GameStop employees who nothing about where they’re working or what’s going on in the industry, i.e. which games come out when, whether or not they have a game in stock, where their store is located, or if they have any of their pot left.

Video Game Industry: A
The video game industry has made some amazing moves this year to attempt to counter the AGA’s harsh words and ignorance. Patricia Vance, president of the ESRB, began the campaign to educate the general public on the ratings system, and has intelligently defended the ESRB’s position on many ratings. Hal Halpin, president of the ESA, had the difficult job of filling Doug Lowenstein’s shoes, and has done a fine job at doing just that, hiring those already familiar with similar ratings systems, and urging the gaming community at large to get involved in the controversy by submit questions to the presidential candidates. I would say the industry has done a fine job of defending itself this year.

Anti-Game Activists: F
Would you expect me to give them anything else? Unfortuantely for the AGA’s, they really have no clue what they are talking about. They encourage education on the subject of games, yet refuse to learn anything themselves. They are still referencing Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, a game that came out almost three years ago. They reference studies of violent behavior in youth without knowing they were proven incorrect (see: the Jack Thompson vs. Lorne “Money Hat” Lanning debate), and apparently can’t write reports on their findings without dozens of grammatical mistakes.

Presidential Candidates: D
The 2008 Presidential Candidates are walking on thin ice, especially since I don’t believe in +’s or -’s anymore since attending SCAD. The problem is not that some of them refer to video games like the curse of the 21st century and must be banned forever, but that many refer to them as time-wasters. Haven’t we gone through this enough with music, comic books, movies, and television in the last 100 years? Let’s not forget that so far none of the GOP candidates have taken time to point out bills submitted in the senate by certain other candidates which blatantly disregard the first amendment of the United States Constitution.

Please remember that this is just one man’s opinion, as is the 26-page rant printed by NIMF. And may I also point out that NIMF sounds exactly like nymph. Just sayin’.